Richard J. Brilli

Critical care delivery in the intensive care unit: Defining clinical roles and the best practice model

Patients receiving medical care in intensive care units (ICUs) account for nearly 30% of acute care hospital costs, yet these patients occupy only 10% of inpatient beds (1, 2). In 1984, the Office of Technology Assessment concluded that 80% of hospitals in the United States had ICUs, >20% of hospital budgets were expended on the care of intensive care patients, and approximately 1% of the gross national product was expended for intensive care services (3). With the aging of the U.S. population, greater demand for critical care services will occur. At the same time, market forces are evolving that may constrain both hospitals’ and practitioners’ abilities to provide this increasing need for critical care services. In addition, managed care organizations are requesting justification for services provided in the ICU and for demonstration of both efficiency and efficacy. Hospital administrators are continually seeking methods to provide effective and efficient care to their ICU patients. As a result of these social and economic pressures, there is a need to provide more data about the type and quality of clinical care provided in the ICU. In response, two task forces were convened by the Society of Critical Care Medicine leadership. One task force (models task force) was asked to review available information on critical care delivery in the ICU and to ascertain, if possible, a “best” practice model. The other task force was asked to define the role and practice of an intensivist. The task force memberships were diverse, representing all the disciplines that actively participate in the delivery of health care to patients in the ICU. The models task force membership consisted of 31 healthcare professionals and practitioners, including statisticians and representatives from industry, pharmacy, nursing, respiratory care, and physicians from the specialties of surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, and anesthesia. These healthcare professionals represented the practice of critical care medicine in multiple settings, including nonteaching community hospitals, community hospitals with teaching programs, academic institutions, military hospitals, critical care medicine private practice, full-time academic practice, and consultative critical care practice. This article is the consensus report of the two task forces. The objectives of this report include the following: (1) to describe the types and settings of critical care practice (2); to describe the clinical roles of members of the ICU healthcare team (3); to examine available outcome data pertaining to the types of critical care practice (4); to attempt to define a “best” practice model; and (5) to propose additional research that should be undertaken to answer important questions regarding the practice of critical care medicine. The data and recommendations contained within this report are sometimes based on consensus expert opinion; however, where possible, recommendations are promulgated based on levels of evidence as outlined by Sacket in 1989 (4) and further modified by Taylor in 1997 (5) (see Appendix 1).

Decreasing PICU Catheter-Associated Bloodstream Infections: NACHRI's Quality Transformation Efforts

OBJECTIVE: Despite the magnitude of the problem of catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CA-BSIs) in children, relatively little research has been performed to identify effective strategies to reduce these complications. In this study, we aimed to develop and evaluate effective catheter-care practices to reduce pediatric CA-BSIs. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Our study was a multi-institutional, interrupted time-series design with historical control data and was conducted in 29 PICUs across the United States. Two central venous catheter–care practice bundles comprised our intervention: the insertion bundle of pediatric-tailored care elements derived from adult efforts and the maintenance bundle derived from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and expert pediatric clinician consensus. The bundles were deployed with quality-improvement teaching and methods to support their adoption by teams at the participating PICUs. The main outcome measures were the rate of CA-BSIs from January 2004 to September 2007 and compliance with each element of the insertion and maintenance bundles from October 2006 to September 2007. RESULTS: Average CA-BSI rates were reduced by 43% across 29 PICUs (5.4 vs 3.1 CA-BSIs per 1000 central-line-days; P < .0001). By September 2007, insertion-bundle compliance was 84% and maintenance-bundle compliance was 82%. Hierarchical regression modeling showed that the only significant predictor of an observed decrease in infection rates was the collective use of the insertion and maintenance bundles, as demonstrated by the relative rate (RR) and confidence intervals (CIs) (RR: 0.57 [95% CI: 0.45–0.74]; P < .0001). We used comparable modeling to assess the relative importance of the insertion versus maintenance bundles; the results showed that the only significant predictor of an infection-rate decrease was maintenance-bundle compliance (RR: 0.41 [95% CI: 0.20–0.85]; P = .017). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast with adult ICU care, maximizing insertion-bundle compliance alone cannot help PICUs to eliminate CA-BSIs. The main drivers for additional reductions in pediatric CA-BSI rates are issues that surround daily maintenance care for central lines, as defined in our maintenance bundle. Additional research is needed to define the optimal maintenance bundle that will facilitate elimination of CA-BSIs for children.

Guidelines on critical care services and personnel: Recommendations based on a system of categorization of three levels of care.

ObjectivesTo describe three levels of hospital-based critical care centers to optimally match services and personnel with community needs, and to recommend essential intensive care unit services and personnel for each critical care level. ParticipantsA multidisciplinary writing panel of professionals with expertise in the clinical practice of critical care medicine working under the direction of the American College of Critical Care Medicine (ACCM). Data Sources and SynthesisRelevant medical literature was accessed through a systematic Medline search and synthesized by the ACCM writing panel, a multidisciplinary group of critical care experts. Consensus for the final written document was reached through collaboration in meetings and through electronic communication modalities. Literature cited included previously written guidelines from the ACCM, published expert opinion and statements from official organizations, published review articles, and nonrandomized, historical cohort investigations. With this background, the ACCM writing panel described a three-tiered system of intensive care units determined by service-based criteria. ConclusionsGuidelines for optimal intensive care unit services and personnel for hospitals with varying resources will facilitate both local and regional delivery of consistent and excellent care to critically ill patients.

Implementation of a medical emergency team in a large pediatric teaching hospital prevents respiratory and cardiopulmonary arrests outside the intensive care unit

Objective: We implemented a medical emergency team (MET) in our free-standing childrens hospital. The specific aim was to reduce the rate of codes (respiratory and cardiopulmonary arrests) outside the intensive care units by 50% for >6 months following MET implementation. Design: Retrospective chart review and program implementation. Setting: A childrens hospital. Patients: None. Interventions: The records of patients who required cardiorespiratory resuscitation outside the critical care areas were reviewed before MET implementation to determine activation criteria for the MET. Codes were prospectively defined as respiratory arrests or cardiopulmonary arrests. MET-preventable codes were prospectively defined. The incidence of codes before and after MET implementation was recorded. Measurements and Main Results: Twenty-five codes occurred during the pre-MET baseline compared with six following MET implementation. The code rate (respiratory arrests + cardiopulmonary arrests) post-MET was 0.11 per 1,000 patient days compared with baseline of 0.27 (risk ratio, 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0–0.89; p = .03). The code rate per 1,000 admissions decreased from 1.54 (baseline) to 0.62 (post-MET) (risk ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0–0.86; p = .02). For MET-preventable codes, the code rate post-MET was 0.04 per 1,000 patient days compared with a baseline of 0.14 (risk ratio, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0–0.94; p = .04). There was no difference in the incidence of cardiopulmonary arrests before and after MET. For codes outside the intensive care unit, the pre-MET mortality rate was 0.12 per 1,000 days compared with 0.06 post-MET (risk ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0–1.4, p = .13). The overall mortality rate for outside the intensive care unit codes was 42% (15 of 36 patients). Conclusions: Implementation of a MET is associated with a reduction in the risk of respiratory and cardiopulmonary arrest outside of critical care areas in a large tertiary childrens hospital.

Multicenter cohort study of in-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest.

Objectives: 1) To describe clinical characteristics, hospital courses, and outcomes of a cohort of children cared for within the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network who experienced in-hospital cardiac arrest with sustained return of circulation between July 1, 2003 and December 31, 2004, and 2) to identify factors associated with hospital mortality in this population. These data are required to prepare a randomized trial of therapeutic hypothermia on neurobehavioral outcomes in children after in-hospital cardiac arrest. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Fifteen children’s hospitals associated with Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network. Patients: Patients between 1 day and 18 years of age who had cardiopulmonary resuscitation and received chest compressions for >1 min, and had a return of circulation for >20 mins. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 353 patients met entry criteria; 172 (48.7%) survived to hospital discharge. Among survivors, 132 (76.7%) had good neurologic outcome documented by Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category scores. After adjustment for age, gender, and first documented cardiac arrest rhythm, variables available before and during the arrest that were independently associated with increased mortality included pre-existing hematologic, oncologic, or immunologic disorders, genetic or metabolic disorders, presence of an endotracheal tube before the arrest, and use of sodium bicarbonate during the arrest. Variables associated with decreased mortality included postoperative cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Extending the time frame to include variables available before, during, and within 12 hours following arrest, variables independently associated with increased mortality included the use of calcium during the arrest. Variables associated with decreased mortality included higher minimum blood pH and pupillary responsiveness. Conclusions: Many factors are associated with hospital mortality among children after in-hospital cardiac arrest and return of circulation. Such factors must be considered when designing a trial of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest in pediatric patients.

Extubation failure in pediatric intensive care: A multiple-center study of risk factors and outcomes

ObjectiveTo determine a contemporary failed extubation rate, risk factors, and consequences of extubation failure in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). Three hypotheses were investigated: a) Extubation failure is in part disease specific; b) preexisting respiratory conditions predispose to extubation failure; and c) admission acuity scoring does not affect extubation failure. DesignTwelve-month prospective, observational, clinical study. SettingSixteen diverse PICUs in the United States. PatientsPatients were 2,794 patients from the newborn period to 18 yrs of age experiencing a planned extubation trial. InterventionsNone. Measurements and Main ResultsA descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and outcome differences of the failed extubation population were determined. The extubation failure rate was 6.2% (174 of 2,794; 95% confidence interval, 5.3–7.1). Patient features associated with extubation failure (p < .05) included age ≤24 months; dysgenetic condition; syndromic condition; chronic respiratory disorder; chronic neurologic condition; medical or surgical airway condition; chronic noninvasive positive pressure ventilation; the need to replace the endotracheal tube on admission to the PICU; and the use of racemic epinephrine, steroids, helium-oxygen therapy (heliox), or noninvasive positive pressure ventilation within 24 hrs of extubation. Patients failing extubation had longer pre-extubation intubation time (failed, 148.7 hrs, sd ± 207.8 vs. success, 107.9 hrs, sd ± 171.3; p < .001), longer PICU length of stay (17.5 days, sd ± 15.6 vs. 7.6 days, sd ± 11.1; p < .001), and a higher mortality rate than patients not failing extubation (4.0% vs. 0.8%; p < .001). Failure was found to be in part disease specific, and preexisting respiratory conditions were found to predispose to failure whereas admission acuity did not. ConclusionA variety of patient features are associated with an increase in extubation failure rate, and serious outcome consequences characterize the extubation failure population in PICUs.

Multicenter cohort study of out-of-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest*

Objectives:To describe a large cohort of children with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with return of circulation and to identify factors in the early postarrest period associated with survival. These objectives were for planning an interventional trial of therapeutic hypothermia after pediatric cardiac arrest. Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted at 15 Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network clinical sites over an 18-month study period. All children from 1 day (24 hrs) to 18 yrs of age with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and a history of at least 1 min of chest compressions with return of circulation for at least 20 mins were eligible. Measurements and Main Results:One hundred thirty-eight cases met study entry criteria; the overall mortality was 62% (85 of 138 cases). The event characteristics associated with increased survival were as follows: weekend arrests, cardiopulmonary resuscitation not ongoing at hospital arrival, arrest rhythm not asystole, no atropine or NaHCO3, fewer epinephrine doses, shorter duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and drowning or asphyxial arrest event. For the 0- to 12-hr postarrest return-of-circulation period, absence of any vasopressor or inotropic agent (dopamine, epinephrine) use, higher lowest temperature recorded, greater lowest pH, lower lactate, lower maximum glucose, and normal pupillary responses were all associated with survival. A multivariate logistic model of variables available at the time of arrest, which controlled for gender, age, race, and asystole or ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia anytime during the arrest, found the administration of atropine and epinephrine to be associated with mortality. A second model using additional information available up to 12 hrs after return of circulation found 1) preexisting lung or airway disease; 2) an etiology of arrest drowning or asphyxia; 3) higher pH, and 4) bilateral reactive pupils to be associated with lower mortality. Receiving more than three doses of epinephrine was associated with poor outcome in 96% (44 of 46) of cases. Conclusions:Multiple factors were identified as associated with survival after out-of-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest with the return of circulation. Additional information available within a few hours after the return of circulation may diminish outcome associations of factors available at earlier times in regression models. These factors should be considered in the design of future interventional trials aimed to improve outcome after pediatric cardiac arrest.

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: Characterizing the Problem and Implementing a Sustainable Solution

OBJECTIVES To characterize ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), implement an evidence-based pediatric VAP prevention bundle, and reduce VAP rates. STUDY DESIGN The setting is a 25-bed PICU in a 475-bed free-standing pediatric academic medical center. VAP was diagnosed according to Centers for Disease Control and National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System definitions. A pediatric VAP prevention bundle was established and implemented. Baseline VAP rates were compared with implementation and post-bundle-implementation periods. RESULTS VAP is significantly associated with increased PICU length of stay, mechanical ventilator days, and mortality rates (length of stay VAP 19.5+/-15.0 vs non-VAP 7.5+/-9.2, P< .001; ventilator days VAP 16.3+/-14.7 vs non-VAP 5.3+/-8.4, P< .001; mortality VAP 19.1% vs non-VAP 7.2%, P= .01). The VAP rate was reduced from 5.6 (baseline) to 0.3 infections per 1000 ventilator days after bundle implementation; P< .0001. Subglottic/tracheal stenosis, trauma, and tracheostomy are significantly associated with VAP. CONCLUSIONS PICU VAP is associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates. A multidisciplinary improvement team can implement a sustainable pediatric-specific VAP prevention bundle, resulting in VAP rate reduction.

In-hospital versus out-of-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest: A multicenter cohort study

Objectives: To describe a large multicenter cohort of pediatric cardiac arrest (CA) with return of circulation (ROC) from either the in-hospital (IH) or the out-of-hospital (OH) setting and to determine whether significant differences related to pre-event, arrest event, early postarrest event characteristics, and outcomes exist that would be critical in planning a clinical trial of therapeutic hypothermia (TH). Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Fifteen Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network sites. Patients: Patients aged 24 hours to 18 years with either IH or OH CA who had a history of at least 1 minute of chest compressions and ROC for at least 20 minutes were eligible. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 491 patients met study entry criteria with 353 IH cases and 138 OH cases. Major differences between the IH and OH cohorts were observed for patient prearrest characteristics, arrest event initial rhythm described, and arrest medication use. Several postarrest interventions were used differently, however, the use of TH was similar (<5%) in both cohorts. During the 0–12-hour interval following ROC, OH cases had lower minimum temperature and pH, and higher maximum serum glucose recorded. Mortality was greater in the OH cohort (62% vs. 51%, p = 0.04) with the cause attributed to a neurologic indication much more frequent in the OH than in the IH cohort (69% vs. 20%; p < 0.01). Conclusions: For pediatric CA with ROC, several major differences exist between IH and OH cohorts. The finding that the etiology of death was attributed to neurologic indications much more frequently in OH arrests has important implications for future research. Investigators planning to evaluate the efficacy of new interventions, such as TH, should be aware that the IH and OH populations differ greatly and require independent clinical trials.

A Hospital-wide Quality-Improvement Collaborative to Reduce Catheter-Associated Bloodstream Infections

BACKGROUND: Catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CA BSIs) are associated with increased hospital length of stay, total hospital costs, and mortality. Quality-improvement collaboratives (QICs) are frequently used to improve health care quality. Our PICU was previously involved in a successful national QIC to reduce the incidence of CA BSI in critically ill children. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that the formation of a hospital-wide QIC would reduce the incidence of CA BSI throughout our institution. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the incidence of CA BSI from March 2006 to March 2010. The collaborative approach included hospital-wide implementation of central-line insertion and maintenance bundles that emphasized full sterile barrier precautions and chlorhexidine skin preparation during line insertion, daily discussion of catheter necessity, and meticulous site and tubing care. The hospital units involved were our 3 critical care units, the oncology unit, the bone marrow transplant unit, and wards. Each individual unit was responsible for collecting unit-specific data and performing event-cause analysis within 48 hours of identifying a CA BSI. These results were shared with the other hospital units during monthly meetings. Compliance with the insertion and maintenance bundles was monitored and reported to each unit monthly. RESULTS: The hospital-wide CA-BSI rate decreased from a baseline of 3.0 to <1.0 CA BSI per 1000 line-days after implementation of the QIC. CONCLUSIONS: Our hospital-wide QIC resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of CA BSI at our childrens hospital. A collaborative model based on improvement science methodology is both feasible and effective in reducing the incidence of CA BSI.